Known for a hotel scene that bears a burden on the budget traveler, Santa Barbara's newest hotel, which is actually a hostel, looks to fill that void. Opened this week in the Funk Zone neighborhood, The Wayfarer is a 31-room hostel that offers both private and shared accommodations.

The opening of the Wayfarer is especially interesting given its location in the Funk Zone. An "artsy" neighborhood filled with murals, a surf museum, wine tasting rooms, breweries, a distillery, and small restaurants, it displayed a touch of grit in its early days that Santa Barbara had always lacked. But as its popularity has grown, so have the price tags on its restaurants and urban wineries.

Last year, our bro Jaunted noted that the local media was concerned that the growing gentrification of the neighborhood would ultimately be what killed it as higher-end concepts and projects, including hotels, looked to capitalize.

The Biltmore, Bacara, and Davy Crockett's Fess Parker get a lot of the attention when it comes to Santa Barbara's hotel scene and full-service resorts, yet a drive through town, especially in the blocks adjacent to the beach, reveals clusters of boutique hotels and small inns that far outnumber the bigger brands.

One such property is the Hotel Oceana on Cabrillo Boulevard, which sits across the street from the beach and the harbor. Featuring a collection of cozy courtyards outside of rooms and between buildings, we were impressed with its colorful landscaping, the blues, reds, and yellows of the flowers and furniture bold against the backdrop of the green gardens. The rooms and views are just as eye-popping, as you will see in the following photos.

Clearly, Kimpton Hotels are on a sort of a management and acquisition roll. After picking up the management of two Thompson Hotels (one in Chicago and one in DC), and putting the RiverPlace hotel into their portfolio, Kimpton has now announced that they have bought the Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara.

Despite the new ownership, nothing much will change. Guestrooms will keep the mix of Spanish and Morrocan decor and free WiFi for Kimpton's InTouch members. The Perch, the hotel's rooftop venue with a pool will still remain and Kimpton will also manage the hotel's Coast Restaurant & Bar. And yes, you can expect Kimpton's famous wine-tasting hour here from 5 to 6pm nightly in the hotel lobby.

Well, this is surprising. When we were compiling our Master List of 2012 Openings, we totally did not see that Hotel Indigo would be opening in Santa Barbara. But lo and behold, an is announcement out today says that our favorite boutique brand is opening in March in the former Hotel State Street.

We'll find any excuse to visit beautiful Santa Barbara. The beaches, mountain backdrop and Spanish adobe buildings with red-tile roofs make it a charming vacay spot. Luckily, Travelzoo is giving us a good reason to visit the beachy town, that and we might get to bump into Parks & Recreation's Rob Lowe, who—literally—hangs in SB since he lives nearby in Montecito.

The package is good for West Coasters who want a quickie getaway. As part of the deal, you'll spend a night at the Canary Hotel and get dinner for two for $299, a $350 savings.

The hotel is offering guests a second night at the hotel for 50 percent off. Sadly, it's only for stays from Sunday-Thursday. But with room rates starting at $159 for a superior room with a king bed, a two-night stay is only $267 with taxes. Junior suites with a king bed and pull-out sofa bed were just $189 for the first night and $94.50 for the second.

That's not bad for a hotel that recently completed a renovation and who used to charge around $250 for weekdays stays. Even staying over the weekend is more affordable. Weekend rates (not included in this half-off deal) start at $200 for a king bed with an advance, non-refundable rate.

simple, clean walls, inspired by the traditional white adobe style of Santa Barbara, new hardwood floors evoking the region's old world charm throughout the guest rooms, the addition of high-definition flat screen LCD TVs, and all new furnishings and accessories.

When the renovation project is 100% finished, the hotel feature 14 new junior suites and an "updated boardroom."

Santa Barbara's got a new hotel but judging from this review of the Canary Hotel by the LA Times' Valli Herman, the place still has a long ways to go before it's on the same level as some of its famous neighbors. And we don't mean Oprah. We mean Ojai, Bacara.

The Canary Hotel is actually the new incarnation of the Hotel Andalucia, a five-story boutique hotel that opened in 2004 just a block off State Street. The place got a gigantic facelift courtesy of the group behind two of our fave Santa Monica hotels--Casa del Mar and Shutters on the Beach--the Edward Thomas Collection (ETC Hotels).

As for the name, it really has nothing to do with the bird but rather the Canary Islands off Morocco's coast. Thus the decor is mix of Spanish and Morrocan but the bird makes an appearance in the logo and the hotel offers binoculars in each room and named the rooftop poolside bar, the Perch.

Despite all this cuteness and a great downtown location. Herman was severely displeased with the service.

Developers plowed over $30 million into Hotel Andalucia, a new boutique hotel in Santa Barbara that opened late last week.

The former occupant of the Andalucia's lot was a giant hole in the ground, so it is hard for the Anadalucia to do anything but improve on the previous plot situation.

The downtown hotel will feature almost 100 Spanish style rooms, complete with mosaic-tiled bathrooms. The property also features a rooftop pool, Jacuzzi, and outdoor fireplace, an art gallery, and 31 West, a restaurant with Napa renowned chef Michael Reardon at the helm.